Rustic Journey

There is no big problem of clean drinking water in India. However, you need to take certain precautions to ensure that you are drinking clean and pure water. Some of these water precautions for India are listed below:

• These days bottled (mineral) water is available almost everywhere. However, sometimes, cheap fake bottled water is also given. To avoid this, make sure to check that that the seal of the bottle is intact. Also, see if there is anything floating in it before buying.

• Even when you are visiting restaurants or hotels, insist on bottled (mineral) water. You will not face much trouble as almost all the restaurants and hotels keep bottled water.

• Never ever drink water from roadside vendors selling water pumped up from the vend’s tank. That water is not at all safe.

• You may also come across water being sold in polythene bags. Don’t drink it at all. Even this water is not safe.

• If you are staying at someone’s place, don’t drink the tap water. If they have aquagaurds or RO systems or other purifiers, then it’s ok. Otherwise, insist on either boiled or bottled (mineral) water.

Food Precautions for India

The food you eat, how it's cooked, stored and served is very important. Make it a rule to stick to freshly cooked food, made in clean and hygienic place. Here are some food precautions for India that need to be taken by you:

• The safest thing to eat is freshly cooked food. Food left sitting may attract flies and cause major health hazards.

• Salads and cut fresh fruits should be strictly avoided. Eat only unpeeled fruits.

• Avoid fresh fruit juice. If you want to have juice, go in for branded ones being sold in tetra packs.

• If you are a non-vegetarian, buy from decent shops. It is better not to eat from lower end restaurants or station platforms.

• Never ever eat anything from the roadside vendors. There are high chances of the food being contaminated.

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Health Precautions for India

Here are some health precautions for India you should follow if traveling to this country:

• Don’t drink water from tap or roadside vends. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Also, buy water from respectable and decent looking outlets. Check the seal before buying the water to make sure that it is intact.

• Never eat cut fruits sold by the roadside vendors. Always eat fruits you can peel. Wash the fruits properly with water well before eating them.

• It is advisable to keep a mosquito repellent ointment with you always.

• Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need. Especially medicines for upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc. Also, keep some band-aids, antiseptic ointments, etc with you.

• Avoid fountain drinks and ice cubes.

• Avoid eating food from the roadside vends. If, by chance, you are forced to eat from there, make sure that the food is well cooked and is served hot.

• Try to avoid spicy dishes, especially in the initial stages of your travel.

• Avoid eating salads, especially at small restaurants and small hotels.

• If you are visiting India in summer time, drink lots of water, cover your head with scarves or caps or hats, wear sunglasses and use sunscreen lotion. Try to stay indoors in the afternoon.

• If you fall very sick, it is better to visit a doctor. However, ask the hotel authorities or the people at whose house you are staying to refer a good doctor to you.

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India: Food & Drink

Food in India is varied, exciting and inviting. Hotels in India are aware of the reactions Indian food can sometimes have on overseas visitors and therefore take great care in the hygienic preparation and storage of food. Whilst health problems are rare these can occur and are often the result of a dietary change or over-indulgence. We would recommend a light diet, particularly during the first few days. For those averse to a curry continental food is readily available.

Most hotels have in-house restaurants and round the clock room service. Tea or coffee in the room can be obtained through room service, although facilities for making your own tea in the room are not so common.

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India: Health

We recommend you consult your doctor about inoculations and anti-malaria precautions required. In general cover against polio, cholera, typhoid, tetanus, malaria, hepatitis A and meningitis is recommended (though not mandatory). Vaccination against yellow fever is essential if visiting from an infected area. This is not required if travelling from the UK.

Avoid drinking tap water and taking ice in drinks. Stick to bottled water (or boiled/UV treated water available at the hotel) and ensure that the seal is opened by you/in your presence. Aerated waters (bottled soft drinks) are fine.
Eat in moderation for the first few days. Allow your system to get used to the changes. Yoghurt (locally called "curd") is advisable for weak constitutions or after a hot curry.

Indian beer, gin and rum are fine. You may not find some of the local whisky very good. Wine, if available, would generally be very expensive. Check the price before ordering. Imported liquor is available but very expensive.
We recommend you carry with you a small supply of basic health care medication such as travel sickness tablets, anti-diarrhea tablets, insect repellent, sun creams and a general purpose antibiotic. Although most of these items are available in India, the security provided by brands one is used to, is reassuring.

We strongly recommend that all travellers are properly insured for the holiday. If you have taken your own travel insurance, please check that it includes repatriation costs.
For further guidance, see Health Advice for Travellers information issued by the Department of Health. You will normally be sent this in booklet form with your booking acceptance.

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Indian Food

There is no single cuisine in India. Just like the culture of India, the Indian cuisine is also very diverse. From Punjabi to South Indian to Gujarati, Indian food consists of a number of different regional cuisines. Read further to know about the traditional food of India.
Most of the Indian cuisines have a liberal usage of spices. Also, there is a wide usage of a variety of vegetables. Within these basic similarities, there is also diversity in the local styles.

North and West:
North Indian meals consist of basically chapatis or rotis, along with dals (pulses), vegetables and Curd (yoghurt). Use of rice is there but not too much. There are also side dishes chutney (preserves) and achars (pickle). In the North and West, there are also Kashmiri and Mughlai cuisines, reflecting the strong influence of central Asia. There is a heavy consumption of Milk based sweets also.

South and East:
In South and East India, there is a heavy consumption of rice, along with dals and curries. The dishes are mostly rice-based. Coconut is a very important and widely used ingredient in most of the South and East Indian dishes. Fish also consists of a part of this diet.

Desert Area:
In the desert area of Rajasthan and Gujarat, there is a usage of a wide variety of dals and achars. A reason for this is the relative lack of fresh vegetables.
However, the staple diet of India consists of rice, atta (whole wheat flour), a variety of pulses and vegetables. Besides the main dishes, there are a number of snacks that are quite popular in India. Some of them are samosa, pakodas, vadas, chillas, etc. Regarding drinks, the most popular is tea. Coffee is more popular in South India. Nimbu pani (lemonade), lassi, and coconut milk are also popular. Traditionally, meals are eaten while sitting on the floor. But with the modernization of India, this practice has diminished to great extent. Also, most of the Indian food is eaten with the fingers only.

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Vaccinations for Indian Travel

Before embarking on your India vacations, you must make yourself familiar with different diseases that are common in Indian climatic conditions. In addition to that you should also consult your physician before going for any vaccination or medicine. Here is a comprehensive list of all the diseases that are common to India and vaccinations for them.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to India

Typhoid
All travelers are recommended to take Typhoid vaccination

Polio
In case of Polio, one-time booster is recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult.

Yellow Fever
Vaccination for yellow fever is required only for travelers arriving from or transiting through any yellow-fever-infected area like Africa.

Japanese Encephalitis
This vaccine is recommended for travelers staying for more than 1 month and traveling to rural areas or travelers engaging in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk

Hepatitis B
Travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents should take this vaccination, especially if their period of stay is more than 6 months.

Rabies
Any traveler who may have direct contact with animals should take this vaccination.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
If any person born after 1956 has not previously taken this vaccination, he/she should take two doses of the same.

Tetanus-Diphtheria
You need to take this revaccination every 10 years.

Major Diseases in India
Planning a trip to India and worried about common diseases in India? To make your India visit truly memorable, we are highlighting some of the major diseases that occur in India

Diarrhea
The most common ailment of travelers is diarrhea. The main cause of it is unclean food and water. It is advised to carry an antibiotic and an anti diarrhea drug if significant diarrhea occurs. In case of diarrhea, good amount of fluid intake is required. However, if diarrhea gets severe you should immediately call a doctor.

Malaria
Prophylaxis with mefloquine (Lariam), atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) or doxycycline is recommended throughout India (including Delhi and Bombay), except at places located at high altitudes (2000 m/6561 ft). Long-term travelers coming to India may not have access to medical care all the time; they should bring along medications for emergency self-treatment in case they develop symptoms indicative of malaria, such as fever, headaches, chills and muscle aches. It is important to note that symptoms of malaria sometimes may not occur for months or even years after exposure.

Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness may occur in travelers ascending altitudes greater than 2500m. This specifically includes the mountain areas of northern India. Those with a history of heart disease, lung disease, or sickle cell disease are advised to avoid high altitudes.

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What to Wear in India

If you are traveling to India, carry minimal clothing. We will suggest you to carry light luggage. The reason is that both clothing as well as laundry is quite cheap in India. “How to dress up in India” is not a very big problem. Read on to know about the clothes to wear in India.

Indian summers are too hot. So, if you are planning to come in the period of March to June, carry light clothes. Men can wear loose cotton shirts or T-shirts and baggy Pants. In the big cities and Metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Banglore, Pune, etc you can wear shorts also. However, women should dress conservatively. Short tops, short skirts / shorts, etc should be avoided. You can wear cotton shirts or T-shirts, with cotton trousers or ankle length skirts. Make sure that the clothes are not too tight or body revealing. These clothes can be easily purchased from the Indian markets at a reasonable price. If you want to try Indian clothing, then, men can wear “kurta pyjama” and women can try “salwar-kameez”.

Winters (October to February) in India are quite cold, especially North India. So, pack some woolen clothes with you. Also, pack some warm innerwear, especially if you are planning to roam around too much. During Monsoon (July to September), there is a high level of humidity in India. So don’t wear synthetic stuff. In this case also, cotton clothing is the best.

Last but not the least, while visiting places of worship (temples, gurudwara or mausoleum), you should be fully clothed. Also, don’t forget to remove your footwear before entering any religious place.

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